Time and Attendance (Part 10/31): Terminal setup

You can define a configuration (Project, Manufacturing, Punch clock) to a terminal. Terminals are identified by machine names. So if you want different modes between two terminals, you will need two different machine names. I have had some challenges with this and loadbalencing on terminal servers and citrix… But it is possible.

When a machine launches job registration for the first time in an AX environment the system prompts the user for a configuration.

This creates the record in the terminals table with the description Auto-generated. The configuration can be changed at any time, but require a restart of the job registrations form.

There are two paramters that are not checked by default when the terminal record is created.

Touch screen:
When this is activated the terminal changes layout for better touch interaction. The text get bigger and the menu buttons are moved to the bottom of the screen. There are also on screen numeric pads popping up where ever you need to do feedback.

Touchscreen and Barcode active

Touchscreen and Barcode not active

Clock in screen with touch screen activated

Barcode scanner:
This activates the barcode scanner field in the top of the terminal interface. After the user logs on with their credentials, the barcode field is in sat in focus (prompt in the box/you don’t need to click it/is ready for feedback) and you can directly scan a barcode.

Terminal configuration:

You can personalize any form in AX, but the job registration form is one of the most configurable interfaces except for the retail POS terminals. You can configure the buttons and fields by using the terminal configuration (Production Control > Setup > Terminals > Configure registration forms). The configuration wizard create some default terminal settings as shown here. Feel free to make you own.

The Action pane parameter defines the configuration of the buttons and panes. You can configure these as you wish. More info on that below.

The Start page parameter defines the first page you are taken to when logging on. There are six options to choose from here.

None
Returns to the logon screen. Used for punch clocks

My jobs
If the employee is connected to a resource, the terminal filters project activities and production jobs that are planned on this resource.

Indirect activities
Displays the available indirect activities

Project
Display projects and project activities

Current Activities
Shows a list of jobs the user has activly selected.

Production
Shows production jobs

Feedback input method determin the way that the user is working with when doing feedback. It is either the standard grid solution which is a table grid list of each job the user is working on or a more guided wizard dialoge with one page for each job the user is working on.

Use actual login time defines if you want to use the time the worker clocked in or the actual time where he selected the job and approved/started.

Disable close disable the windows to be closed by any default windows interaction. You need to press CTRL + Q or quit the application all together if you want to close the window.

Report qty at clock out gives the user a dialogue for feedback when clocking out. Even on the punch clocks.

Job list check checks if the job fed in to the barcode field is available on the list displayed. This way the user can not start another job then is on the filtered list.

Lock employee means that the user can authenticate once and start and report on the terminal without being presented the login screen again. They have to manually click the switch user icon. Then the terminal is brought back to the login screen.

Prompt for production area gives a dialogue at start up to select the Production area, Resource group or resource and filters the production jobs accordingly.

You can show, minimize or totaly hide Messages, Status, Clock and Preview pane.

You can select the setup for the Indirect activities, Production orders and Projects. You can configure these and choose what fields to be shown in the grid collumns and the preview pane.

Select fields:
Click “Setup of grids” in the action menu on the terminals configuration to launch the setup.

Choose the fields to be displayed and select if they are to be shown in the Columns or Preview pane.

If you want to do add new fields to the forms, you should add it as a selectable field in this list and not fool around with the form directly.

Configure the Action pane:
Click “Setup of Action Pane” in the action menu on the terminals configuration to launch the setup.

You can configure the buttons based on the displayed tree.
There are four levels: Root, Pane, Group and the actual Button.
You can rearrange the function buttons as you want.

The system will display an irritating error message if you leave a button without a function. So if you create a button to much. Put a value in and then delete it.

If you want to create a button function of your own. Use this paradigme to create the amendments. Don’t mess around with the form layout in the AOT.